NIO release dissident repubilcan inmate Martin Corey after almost four years in custody without trial

A DISSIDENT republican prisoner held for four years in jail without trial has been released from a top security prison tonight.

Martin Coreywas freed on the orders of Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.

His release took place at 8 pm on Wednesday evening from a back entrance at Maghaberry prison.

And part of his condition of his release is that he is banned from talking to the media.

Corey, from Lurgan, Co Armagh, had been in custody since 2010 after former Secretary of State Shaun Woodward revoked his licence and recalled him following information passed to him by MI5.

A British Security Service file claimed that he posed a risk to the public and alleged he was involved with dissident republicans in Lurgan.

Corey, a member of Republican Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Continuity IRA, was jailed in 1973 for a double murder of two RUC officers.

He was released on licence in 1992 but recalled to Maghaberry however, he was never told the nature of the allegations against him.

His release comes ahead of a challenge by his legal team in the European court over his detention.

A spokeswoman said: “The Northern Ireland Office confirms that the independent Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland have issued their judgment in respect of Martin Corey.

“The Parole Commissioners have decided to release Martin Corey on a licence that is subject to conditions which are designed to manage the risk they assess him to pose.”

Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann Corey’s release, saying the NIO had lessons to learn from his imprisonment.

“It is almost four years since the arrest and detention of Martin Corey. At no time was he questioned by police or were his legal team shown evidence against him.

“At no time was due process had. This was a clear abuse of Martin Corey’s human rights and is an indictment on those who held him.

“Sinn Féin have consistently raised this issue and the conditions under which Martin Corey was detained.

“I am glad that he is now released and free to return to his family.

“There are very clear lessons which present themselves to the British government. The arrest and detention of people without any evidence being presented cannot be justified in any terms,” she said.